Haas’ new technical partnership with Toyota comes with the support of Ferrari and will enhance the existing agreements, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu.
Toyota Gazoo Racing has become an official technical partner of Haas, in a deal includes the manufacturing of parts and a simulator set-up, but Komatsu said that nothing from the team’s existing Ferrari relationship will change.
“We are going to continue to use the Maranello wind tunnel, and regarding our own gearbox, that is not what we are thinking,” Komatsu said. “As long as regulations permit, we will buy the gearbox from Ferrari. Our partnership with Toyota is not to replace our Ferrari partnership.
“The Ferrari-Haas partnership is the foundation and it is always going to be the foundation. This partnership is not to take away from it but enhance that fundamental partnership with Ferrari. What we have with Ferrari, what we get from Ferrari, is amazing. It’s the foundation of Haas F1 Team. But areas Toyota can help us is outside of that.
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“We’ve been transparent with Ferrari management from the early stage of this discussions. Clear understanding of what engagement we have with TGR and how we will protect IP of each company.”
Komatsu said that being open with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur from the start of talks with Toyota was key to ensuring both companies were happy with the agreement.
“In terms of talks and finalizing the agreement et cetera, to be honest it was relatively straightforward,” he said. “:We’ve been working with Ferrari since day one so we understand each other very well, and I’ve always been talking with Fred from the very early stages of this idea for the collaboration.
“Like I said, the Ferrari-Haas relationship is the foundation, so I went in with the complete mindset that they need to really understand that one. Let’s say if they feel any threat, that the Toyota-Haas alliance would be a threat to them, that’s not going to work. So I made sure that that is not the case. And then through [Masaya] Kaji-san, Toyota was totally on board and clear from day one.
“I think honestly, the key is being transparent and clear in terms of engagement, in terms of parameters, from day one, so that all parties are informed. Of course Ferrari sent us certain requirements, certain bullet points, where I had to guarantee them that ‘Look, we are continuing this and this and this’ but that’s what we were going to do anyway. So it was very straightforward really, and very collaborative from all sides.”
Manufacturing of the Haas chassis is also currently outsourced to Italian company Dallara, and Komatsu says the agreement will continue but there could be areas where certain components come under Toyota’s remit.
“Again, Dallara is our important partner, they’ve been with us from day one, they’ve been building our chassis since day one,” he said. “So that’s another key important relationship, and again in due course we’ll be discussing which parameters we will keep working with Dallara, which parameters we’ll work with Toyota. It will co-exist, it is not replacing one with the other.
“Of course we keep the Maranello design office, because again, nothing changes in that we buy the gearbox and suspension from Ferrari, so to that extent it makes sense to have our design office in Maranello. And we continue to use the Ferrari wind tunnel, so our aerodynamicists will continue to be based there.
“But for instance we will start designing some other carbon composite parts by ourselves and also start doing some testing and sim work, some other areas, to contribute to the performance of the car. Where we house them exactly, whether Maranello or UK, is something we will decide in the future. But again, I just like to stress it’s not to replace what we have with Ferrari.”